An 18-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with failing to stop and render aid in the death of a 72-year-old motorcyclist in Garland
Garland police launched a search for a hit-and-run driver after Charles King was found at 11:30 p.m. Thursday lying next to his motorcycle on Interstate-635 near Centerville Road. He had been struck and killed by a semi tractor and trailer, police said.
Investigators located a damaged black 1995 Lexus after a witness gave a possible license plate number. Police contacted the owner and discovered that his girl friend, Tasha Hayes, was driving the car the night of the fatal wreck. Police said when they contacted Hayes she admitted to driving the vehicle and cooperated with investigators.
Hayes said she was trying to dodge something lying in the roadway when she swerved and then ended up colliding with King in an adjacent lane, police said. King lost control of his motorcycle and fell into the roadway.
Investigators said they believe Hayes did initially pull over and stop, but when she saw King get hit by the semi-tractor and trailer she drove away from the scene.
Hayes was taken to the Garland Jail where her bail was set at $5,000. Failure to stop and render aid is a third degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
King and his biker buddies called themselves the "Keller's Rat Pack," because they always gathered at Keller's Hamburgers in East Dallas for Friday night burgers and beer.
